Man arrested in rock-throwing attack that injured young girl riding schoool bus on new jersey turnpike
Graphic recreation of school bus with damaged window - Fictional bus name to protect the identity of the bus company - Photoshop.

Man arrested in rock-throwing attack that injured young girl riding schoool bus on New Jersey Turnpike

Posted by
1 min read
January 10, 2026

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. – A Palisades Park man has been arrested in connection with a January 7 rock-throwing incident on the New Jersey Turnpike that caused damage to a vehicle and led to a multi-agency investigation, authorities said.

According to New Jersey State Police, 40-year-old Hernando Garciamorales was taken into custody earlier today after troopers and local law enforcement located him at a self-made campsite in Old Croaker County Park. Investigators say Garciamorales is believed to be responsible for throwing rocks at vehicles traveling northbound on the Turnpike before Exit 70 A/B.

The New Jersey State Police Target Hardening Unit UAS Response Squad and Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office worked with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Bogota Police Department, and Teaneck Police Department to track down the suspect. Officials also linked Garciamorales to multiple similar rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough.

Garciamorales faces charges including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight, and hindering. He is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version